Estimation of Secondary Metabolites, Nutrients, Minerals, and Anti-Inflammatory and Antidiarrheal Agents in Heliotropium rariflorum Stocks at Two Phenological Stages

The medicinal value of plants depends on minerals and nutrients and their complexation with chemotherapeutic compounds. The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition with anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal potential of Heliotropium rariflorum. Among nutrients, fibers were maximum (25.3% in leaves, 53.05% in stem, 57.01% in roots) during flowering period. Leaves were rich in ash contents. Fat contents were minimum (0.94%-7.22%) in plant parts during both periods. The highest gross energy was calculated for leaves during vegetative period (210.136 kcal/100 g). Similarly, macro-minerals (Ca & K contents) were highest at both stages, whereas micro-minerals (Cu contents) were at flowering stage as compared to the rest of the elements. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) revealed that the leaves methanolic extract was rich in 16,28-secosolanidan-3-ol and tetrahydro-solasodine (1.40%), stem in 6-octadecenoic acid (29.24%) (9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z) and cis-7-dodecen-1-yl acetate; 14.30%), and roots in 4-(1-methyle 2-cyclohexen)-1-one, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, and 2,4-dimethylfuran (0.83%). The plant exhibited statistically significant (p < 0.01) anti-inflammatory while mild antidiarrheal properties (p > 0.01). It is recommended that H. rariflorum is a good source of nutrients, minerals, and secondary metabolites and can be used in food and pharmaceutical industries, especially as an anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal agent.